I think I have a job?

October 18, 2011 2:14 PM

I accepted a job abroad. I bought a plane ticket. They haven't sent me my contract. Now what?

I applied for a reporter position at a start-up publication in a non-English speaking country and I got the job! In clear terms, I was told that I had a job, given salary specifics, asked about my preferred start date, and promised a contract in a week.

That was about half a month ago.

I've been persistent about receiving this contract. In numerous correspondences, I have asked about it, but the question is somehow skirted. The director will pose new questions to me or he'll "get back to me."

Now, I have an arrival date and no contract. Before receiving this job, I was unemployed for four months. This does a number on your self-esteem. Questions are floating in my head like, what if they want to un-hire me? All of this is muddling my judgement and I need some clear tips on how self-confident people would act in this situation.

My question is this: It's apparent that the company is pretty unorganized, but a part of me feels like I'm being screwed with. How can I be persistent about receiving this contract without being overbearing or a push-over? Or do I just show up at their offices in two weeks and sit down at a desk, start working, and then demand to be paid?

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (22 answers total)

So 2 weeks ago you were told that you would have a contract in a week? Have you called them?
posted by TheBones at 2:19 PM on October 18, 2011

I hate to ask this, but: Are you certain that this job exists, that this company exists, and that you're not being scammed? Did you provide them with your SSN, personally identifying information, or other information that could lead to your identity being stolen?
posted by juniperesque at 2:22 PM on October 18, 2011 [2 favorites]

My first thought is, is it possible this is a scam? Have you given them personal information? Have you sent them any form of advance payment, money for an employment tax or money for them to get a visa for you or anything like that?

Also, even if this is for real, find out whether you can legally go there with intent to work, without having your contract in hand.
Do you need a visa to enter their country?
Presumably you need permission from the government to work - eg a work permit or similar - do you know the details of how you can get that?
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:22 PM on October 18, 2011

I've had Skype conversations and email correspondence. They tell me that is "on its way" and then I say, "Sure, no problem."

Yes, this company and people 100% exist. No personal information has been exchanged. Phew.
posted by Cwell at 2:24 PM on October 18, 2011

And when I say "find out" about immigration details, do NOT ask your putative employer. Find out by doing your own research on the website of the country's immigration service.

You might also do an internet search for "scam" + name of employer, or "scam" + job + country.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:24 PM on October 18, 2011

Not clear about visa, etc., requirements there might be, but even if there are none and you have a place to stay, cash on hand and such, as someone who has worked in other countries, I would not get on the plane without a contract (unless it costs you an extremely small amount of money to go there and you could come back with ease).
posted by ambient2 at 2:26 PM on October 18, 2011

I've lived in this country before as a student and it is very difficult to obtain a work visa. I'd certainly be paid in cash, which is why I'm stressing over the terms of reference.

I'm absolutely confident this isn't a scam and I'm perhaps looking for the best way to deal with a well-meaning, but totally unorganized start-up publication.
posted by Cwell at 2:26 PM on October 18, 2011

Are you able to say what country? This might help people give you better answers.
posted by threeants at 2:30 PM on October 18, 2011

Lebanon.
posted by Cwell at 2:31 PM on October 18, 2011

Now that you mention that the job is in Lebanon, have you considered that your employer is taking a huge legal and perhaps personal risk in hiring you and putting your contract in writing?

I'm not sure what that means to you, but you may want to ask the moderators to anonymize your question, since you're now asking for advice on how to secure an illegal (under-the-table, paid in cash) job in a foreign country without a work visa.
posted by juniperesque at 2:37 PM on October 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

Eep, sorry, I didn't mean to throw the question/asker into jeopardy.
posted by threeants at 2:44 PM on October 18, 2011

If they are paying you cash under the table, giving you a contract would be a dumb thing to do. Maybe as dumb for you as for them; I don't know who gets in more trouble under Lebanese laws. You might want to look into the penalties from your end if you're caught.

If you choose to get on the plane, you need to accept you are an itinerant illegal worker with the security and rights therein.
posted by Lyn Never at 2:46 PM on October 18, 2011

Not to minimize the issue, but it's not my concern for the purposes of this post. I considered the difficulties of that, but since my employer didn't seem concerned, then neither was I for the moment.
posted by Cwell at 2:47 PM on October 18, 2011

This may be a mid-east kind of thing--my SO was employed as a consultant in Jordan for a time and it took a loooooong time to get the final documentation. They were never particularly fussed about contracts. They paid on time, though.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 2:59 PM on October 18, 2011

I would point out that, if this is the way this company does business with its employees, is this a risk you want to take?
posted by HuronBob at 3:00 PM on October 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

You've got MeMail.
posted by ambient2 at 3:04 PM on October 18, 2011

This seems strange to me; a contract for an illegal cash position. I mean, can you ever go to court and demand your unpaid, under-the-table wages?

Did they offer the contract, or did you ask? I don't have any experience here, but just from a common sense perspective, I'd think a job like that would be based on your verbal agreement, but never formalized. Maybe they're just humoring your requests until you get there, at which time they'll start paying you and hope that you'll see everything is all right and stop asking them about it.
posted by losvedir at 3:39 PM on October 18, 2011

I have giant heebie-jeebies at the idea of moving to a foreign country without anything being settled here. I would not leave without proof of future employment. If you're unemployed, you're going to spend a lot of money freaking moving countries, and I shudder to think of what would happen if you show up there and they flake out on you.

Seriously, say you're not leaving until you get a contract or some freaking proof of job other than word of mouth.
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:41 PM on October 18, 2011

Do you have a return flight? If you are flying in on a tourist visa they might not let you board the plane without a return or exiting flight. If they let you board the plane, you might not get through customs without it.
posted by Admira at 6:26 PM on October 18, 2011

You've got more MeMail
posted by cirgue at 8:40 PM on October 18, 2011

Wait- you won't be getting a work visa and you'll be getting paid in cash? You'll be working under the table- off the books. Employers generally don't provide legally-binding contracts for illegal employees. It's up to you whether or not you want to (or can afford to) take the risk- for example, I worked in the restaurant industry in the US for a while and this standard practice. However, if you show up, work for a few weeks, and they don't pay you, you don't really have a leg to stand on.
posted by emd3737 at 3:13 AM on October 19, 2011

If you do choose to head over and actually get into the country, I'd advise becoming very familiar with the location and contact information of the US Embassy in Beirut just in case you need to reach out to them for assistance. You should be able to register in STEP, which will help US authorities know how to get in touch with you and/or your emergency contacts.
posted by evoque at 8:54 AM on October 19, 2011